Chelsea's 2026 summer transfer window was different to others under this ownership and that was impacted by behind-the-scenes talks with the Blues squad earlier this year
Cole Palmer
Cole Palmer warms up ahead of Brentford vs Chelsea(Image: Ryan Pierse)
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We're now at the first checkpoint of the 2026/27 season and it feels like a good time to reflect on what we've seen from Chelsea thus far.
Five matches into the Premier League campaign and the Blues are slap bang in the middle of the table. Ironically, it is exactly the position (10th) that Chelsea finished in last term.
After five fixtures, the west Londoners have two wins, two defeats and one draw. Chelsea currently have a minus-two goal difference after scoring 10 and conceding 12 in a chaotic start to the campaign.
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Xabi Alonso will hoping after the first international break of the season is over, his Chelsea side will stop being involved in such frantic matches and will learn to take control in key moments. That was part of the reason Chelsea tweaked their summer transfer strategy.
Sources close to the club say Chelsea's five-strong sporting leadership team held talks with the playing squad in the aftermath of Liam Rosenior's sacking in April. After the Blues put out a remarkable statement that said the club were entering a 'period of self-reflection', there were conversations behind the scenes at Cobham regarding their future and what was next.
Chelsea ended up appointing Alonso on a four-year contract, and gave the Spaniard the role of manager, meaning he was more involved in the club's transfer business than his predecessors under the same ownership. The Blues, in turn, modified their transfer strategy and targeted older, more experienced players to help their youthful squad.
Alonso craved more of a balance, not only on the pitch but behind the scenes as well. The likes of Danny Welbeck, Jordan Henderson, Emi Martinez, Pep Chavarria and Maxence Lacroix were brought in over the summer to try and change the culture at the west London club.
Jordan Henderson signs for Chelsea
Jordan Henderson has signed for Chelsea(Image: Chris Lee - Chelsea FC/Chelsea FC)
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Cole Palmer spoke earlier this year, before the summer transfer window, about everyone working together on changing the narrative at Stamford Bridge and help Chelsea compete for the major honours this season.
"It's something we're working on together," Palmer said to The Guardian in April. "We're on the same page.
"We want to win now and I think if we add right in the summer we can compete for serious trophies next season. I don't think we're far off.
"If you sign the right players in the right positions and the right characters and profiles, I think we have more than enough quality to compete and be more consistent than we've shown over this season.
Cole Palmer
Cole Palmer has been in fine form for Chelsea recently(Image: Catherine Ivill - AMA)
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"Bringing a manager in mid-season, you have no pre-season, hardly have time to train. You're just focusing on games. But the manager [referring to Rosenior, at the time] is good and when he has a proper pre-season and gets his ideas across properly and the way he wants to play he's a top coach.
"If we as players perform to how we should be performing and we get the right players we can, him and us as a group, do some work."
Reporters then caught up with Palmer a few months later after Chelsea had conducted plenty of business in terms of incomings. The 24-year-old, speaking during the club's pre-season tour of Sydney, seemed delighted.
Speaking in July, Palmer said: "When you sign good players, obviously your team is going to be better, so it should be a good season."
So far, Chelsea's signings, on the whole, have done okay. Not all of them have lived up to the bill yet but some are exceeding expectations. It's still very early days in Alonso's debut season.
While there are undoubtedly areas of concern for the Blues manager, there are a few really encouraging signs as well. Morgan Rogers' form and seamless adaptation being one of them.
Palmer played a big role in luring Rogers to Stamford Bridge. The two, who are best friends, were in constant dialogue when talks were happening in the background.
Cole Palmer and Morgan Rogers
Cole Palmer and Morgan Rogers are thriving together at Chelsea(Image: Ryan Pierse)
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"I always speak to him but when I heard Chelsea were trying to sign him, I was texting him even more," said Palmer on Rogers in Australia. "He was probably sick of me but at least he's here now."
He added: "I was just speaking to Morgs. He told me straight away when he was coming.
"It didn't get leaked. Nobody knew. Just me and him and the higher people at the club. So it was a difficult secret to keep. But I kept it!"
Alonso will be hoping to have a fully fit squad, or at least close to, when Chelsea return from the international break. The Blues host Bournemouth on October 10 in the Premier League and the hope is that these three weeks will allow the injured players to return to full fitness for when club football returns.
Moises Caicedo (calf) has been missing for the majority of the season thus far, having made just one brief cameo appearance. Marco Palestra (quad) is yet to feature for the west Londoners this term, and Emmanuel Emegha (hamstring) is in the same boat.
Palmer pulled out of the England squad earlier this week due to a muscular problem. Reece James has a hamstring issue and was not selected for the Three Lions as a result. Joao Pedro is nursing a knee injury and withdrew from Brazil duty last week.
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